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Christmas Special

John Craven and the team are at Tyntesfield in Somerset, a stately pile that celebrates Christmas in high Victorian style.

John Craven and the team are at Tyntesfield in Somerset, a stately pile that celebrates Christmas in high Victorian style. John meets the staff getting the place spruced up, and he gets measured up for his own Victorian outfit. Anita Rani tries her hand at making eco Christmas cards. Steve Brown helps make some decorations based on Victorian originals. Ellie Harrison explores the estate's ancient trees and sees the novel way they are protected from livestock. Sean Fletcher turns his hand to a bit of festive woodworking, Tom Heap looks at the plight of village halls, struggling in the festive season due to a lack of volunteers, and Adam Henson is on the farm, where cheese is being made for Christmas.

The whole team come together with a 25-strong male voice choir, in full Victorian garb, to sing us out with Ding Dong Merrily on High.

55 minutes

Last on

Tue 31 Dec 2019 02:20

Music Played

  • Pet Shop Boys

    Indefinite Leave To Remain

A Very Victorian Christmas

A Very Victorian Christmas

Christmas is just around the corner and what better way to celebrate than in high-old Victorian style?


And where better than at Tyntesfield in Somerset….as grand a Victorian house as you’ll find!

Ìý

The team are here to take a sneak peak behind the scenes as it gearsÌý up for the festive season.


And they'll find out allÌýabout traditional Victorian Christmases and turn their hands to a little festive craftiness!

Christmas Critters

Christmas Critters

Ellie discovers howÌýan incredible insect underworld exists beneath the bark of fallen veteran trees across the estate.Ìý

The variety and amount of unseen invertebrate life they support is extraordinary....no wonder, it’s a popular saying amongst conservationists that dead wood is dead good!

But of all the rare bugs that call Tyntesfield home, there’s one critter this Christmas that’s truly larger than life…because it'sÌýpart of an art installation by Ben Winstone.Ìý

Deck The Halls!

Deck The Halls!
Tom has a special investigation into the village stalwarts that are boosting the Christmas spirit across the countryside - and he's going undercover, suiting up as a surprise Santa!He discovers that, at a time when rural communities are seeing vital services close down, one is bucking the trend: the village hall.Today's halls have become community hubs, filling the void left by close shops, post offices and GPs' surgeries.But is their future safe?

Eco-Xmas Cards

Eco-Xmas Cards

We have the Victorians to thank for manyÌýof our modern Christmas traditions, including Christmas cards.

It was HenryÌýCole who came up with the first commercial Christmas cards in 1843.ÌýÌý

They cost a shilling each and were created to spread a bit of Christmas cheer in a quick and easy way.Ìý

Today, Anita's turning to nature as inspiration for herÌýChristmas card -and there’s plenty to draw upon in the vast green parklands and formal gardens at Tyntesfield.


Christmas Choir

Christmas Choir

Carols had been around for ages before the Victorians got hold of them and put their own particular spin on them.ÌýÌý

The result was many of the traditional festive favourites we still sing today.

And the Countryfile team are in fine voice as they join the Owls of Pill,Ìýa local male voice choir dressed in Dickensian garb, to sing us out of a sparkling Christmas special.Ìý

Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter John Craven
Presenter Anita Rani
Presenter Steve Brown
Presenter Ellie Harrison
Presenter Sean Fletcher
Presenter Adam Henson
Presenter Tom Heap
Series Producer Joanna Brame
Executive Producer William Lyons

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